Bomb shackle



June 13, 1944. A, T. POTTER BOMB SHACKLE Filed Nv. 7, 1942 INVENTOR EJ l HZe/Z TFOge V BY ma@ 9! ATTORNEK'S.

Patented June 13, 1944 BONIB SHACKLE Albert T. Potter, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Ainsworth Manufacturing Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 7, 1942, Serial No. 464,883

(Cl. Sii-1.5)

2 Claims.

The invention relates to the carrying of bombs on airplanes and it has particular relation to improvements in a bomb shackle.

- One form of bomb shackle which has been employed comprises a pair of side plates provided with a pivoted hook at each end adapted for releasably holding a bomb. Linkage between the plates and pivotally connected thereto and to the hooks provides means for moving the latter and releasing the bombs. At each end of the plates also, meansare provided for suspending the shackle from a pairof hooks on the airplane and in theparticular shackle under consideraf tion, this comprises a U-shaped element straddling the plates and having a pin disposed in the U portion of the element and welded thereto. A transverse slot intermediate the ends of the element provides a space into which the suspension hook may be moved for engagement with the pin. While this type of bomb shackle has a been employed, some diiiiculty has been encountered in suspending it by means of the pins as the forces involved tend to bend the pin upwardly in the slot and to not only defcrm the element but to break the ends of the pin away from the latter. -H Damage such as this renders the shackle unsatisfactory for use.

In order to avoid rusting and to obtain more strength per unit weight, it has been the practice to make the U-shape element and pin from stainless steel. Where even greater strength was required, the pin has been made from nickel steel but to prevent rusting this type of pin had to be cadmium plated and there it was diiilcult to get a good weld between the stirrup and pin. Accordingly, in addition to the bending and deforming factor, the problem existed of preventing rust where even a stronger nickel steel pin was welded to the element.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved bomb shackle of the aforesaid character having improved means for suspending the shackle on the airplane.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved means for anchoring the pin in place so as to prevent the damage described and increase durability of the shackle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pin assembly wherein greater pin strength may be obtained while still using a pin having non-rusting characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish these results in an inexpensive manner which allows rapid assembly and connection of the parts together.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, from the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bomb shackle constructed according to one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown by Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the several gures, elongated side plates are indicated at I0 and II and generally between their ends these plates are connected by means or a channel element I2 covering their upper edges and welded to the exterior sides of the plates. At each end an inverted, vertically disposed U-shaped plate element I4 is provided having legs or side plate portions straddling the plates and this element extends above the upper edges of the latter and has a substantially semicylindrical base portion indicated at I5. Intermediate its ends, as shown by Figure 1, the portion of the element I4 above the plates I0 and IIis transversely slotted as indicated at I6. A second generally similar U-shaped plate element I8 is disposed over the element I4 in substantially fitting relation thereto and this second element also is slotted in correspondence with the slot I6. Both the U-shaped elements are connected at their lower ends by means of a cross pin 20 which serves as a pivot for a bomb supporting hook 2|. Linkage, not shown, and lccated between the plates IIJ and II, serves to move the hooks 2I at both ends of the shackle, but this forms no part of the present invention.

For suspending the shackle at each end according to the present invention, a pin 23 is disposed in contact with the cylindrically formed recess I5 in the inner U-shaped element I4 and this pin is held in position by means of a pair of inverted U-shaped anchoring elements 25 and 26 located within the U-shaped element I4 and disposed respectively on opposite sides of the slot I6. The legs of each of these anchoring elements contact the legs of the element I4 respectively and are welded thereto at suitable points indicated at 2l. The base portion of each of the anchoring elements 25 and 26 is curved as indicated at 30 similarly to the pin 23 and surface I 5 and from this it follows that the surface portions I5 and 30 form a generally cylindrical recess substantially iitting the pin surface.

In order to prevent endwise movement of the pin 23 as Well as turning thereof, notches 3| and 32 are provided in the under side of the pin substantially at the center 'of the anchoring elements and the base portion of the latter is formed with a short upwardly struck or pressed-out portion 35 which is disposed Within the notch. Figure 3 shows the shape of the notch 32 and tab 35 and it will be apparent that endwise as well as turning movement of the pin is prevented.

Suspension of the shackle at each end is ef'- fected by means of a hook 36 which may be passed through the slot I6 so as to engage it with the portion of the pin projecting across such slot. Due to the fact that rapid and easy engagement of the hook and pin are desirable, the pin is preferably made from round bar stock and, asa result, a more or less localized engagement of the hook and the pin occurs. It follows that the` load exerts a localized bending force which tends to-bend the pin upwardly intoinverted V shape and this tends to deform the U'shape elements and Ato damage them. The anchoring elements 25 and 26, however, act to strongly reinforce the end portions of the pin against any forces of this character and to hold the pin straight at opposite sides of the slot.

` In order toy obtain more strength per unit.

weight and. avoid rusting, which are important' factors in aircraft, the U-shape elements preferably are made from stainless steel and the pin is made of either stainless steel ornickel steel. Where the latter metal is used, the pin` may be cadmium. plated before assembly without involving anyproblem in connection with welding, since weldingy of the pin snot ei'ected.v

in a stronger and more durable shackle and one wherein the parts maintain their positions and shapes.

While only one form of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departin from the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bomb shackle, an outer U-shape plate element, a pair of spaced U-shape anchoring plate elements disposed within and in spaced relation along the outer element and each having its legs rigidly fastened respectively to the legs ofY such outer element, said outer element having a transverse slot coinciding with the space between the inner elements, said elements having theirv base portionsA spaced and similarly curved so as to provide a cylindrical recess, a pin disposed in and substantially fitting said recess and having notches in its side next to the base of the anchoring elements, and means on the base of the anchoringrelements which project into theL notches for preventingmovemeritv of' the-fin, said fin being adapted for engagement with a shackle` suspension hook projecting through said slot.

2. In a bomb shackle, an outer U-shape plate element, a pair of spaced U-shape anchoringplate elements disposed Within and in spaced re lation along the outer element and each having`v its legs rigidlyfastened respectively tothelegs' of such outer element, said outer element-having" a transverse slot coinciding with the space lietween the inner'elements, said elements having1A their base portions spaced and similarly curvedso as to provide a cylindrical recess,l a pin 'dis posed in and substantially tting'said recessand` having notches in its sidenext to the base of the' elements,y and means comprising struck-out portions on thebase of theanchoring anchoring elements which project into the notches for preventing turning and endwise movement of the pin', said pin being adapted for engagementwith" a shackle suspension hook projecting through said slot. l

' ALBERT TJIPOTTER'. 

